Real-world outcomes with rituximab vs. conventional therapy in pemphigus vulgaris: a single-center Romanian cohort

BackgroundPemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare but potentially life-threatening autoimmune blistering disease. Rituximab has recently gained prominence as a first-line treatment for moderate-to-severe PV, yet real-world evidence from Eastern Europe remains limited. This study compares clinical outcomes of rituximab versus conventional corticosteroid-based therapy in a Romanian PV cohort.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective, single-center observational study including 17 patients diagnosed with PV between January 2021 and July 2025 in Iași, Romania. All patients initially received systemic corticosteroids with azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil when indicated. Rituximab became available through the national reimbursement program in June 2024 and was prescribed for refractory or moderate-to-severe disease. Clinical outcomes assessed included time to disease control, remission and relapse rates, cumulative corticosteroid exposure, and adverse events.ResultsEight patients received rituximab and nine received conventional therapy. Rituximab led to faster disease control, with 100% of patients achieving control within 12 months compared with 55.6% in the conventional group. Complete remission at last follow-up was higher in the rituximab group (75%) than in the conventional group (44.4%). No relapses occurred in rituximab-treated patients during follow-up, whereas all patients treated conventionally experienced relapses (34 episodes in total). The cumulative corticosteroid dose was higher in the rituximab group (median 19.5 g vs. 15.5 g) due to prior exposure before therapy switch. Adverse events differed by treatment: rituximab was associated primarily with early infusion-related reactions and infections, while conventional therapy caused steroid-related toxicities.ConclusionIn this real-world cohort, rituximab demonstrated superior disease control and relapse prevention compared with conventional therapy. Despite limited follow-up, findings support earlier use of rituximab in PV management to reduce relapse burden and long-term corticosteroid exposure. Broader access to rituximab and improved diagnostic resources could meaningfully improve outcomes in resource-limited settings

Phenolic Compounds, Carbohydrates, Vitamin C, and Antioxidant Activity in Different Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) Varieties

The phenolic composition of cherries plays a key role in their antioxidant capacity and potential health benefits. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid, carbohydrate content, antioxidant activity and assess varietal differences between six sweet cherry accessions. To, this study. Phenolic compounds were quantified using the HPLC-DAD-ESI+ method, ensuring precise separation and identification. Ascorbic acid and carbohydrate content were determined via HPLC, providing highly accurate quantification. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using both DPPH and ABTS assays. Our findings provide valuable insights into selecting sweet cherry varieties based on their phenolic and antioxidant content, with potential applications in the food industry and human nutrition. The results revealed varieties-specific biochemical profiles and sugar-polyphenol relationships, which may contribute to future breeding programs and industrial applications. The polyphenol content varied between 570.946 μg/g (‘Sylvia’) and 1,281.695 μg/g (‘Regina’). The highest amount of ascorbic acid was recorded in the Sylvia variety, with 142.867 μg/g, while the highest carbohydrate content was found in Merchant variety (155.778 mg/g). Therefore, the results suggest darker sweet cherry varieties are rich in anthocyanins, maintaining higher polyphenol content despite increased sugar levels

Enhancement of bone consolidation using high-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (HF-PEMFs): An experimental study on rats

In vitro studies showed that high-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (HF-PEMFs) increase the activity/expression of early and late osteogenic markers and enhance bone mineralization. The main aim of this study was to investigate the in vivo effects of HF-PEMFs on fracture healing using a rat model. A femur fracture was established by surgery in 20 male Wistar rats. Titanium nails were implanted to reduce and stabilize the fracture. After surgery, 20 rats were equally divided into untreated control and treated group (from the first postoperative day HF-PEMFs at 400 pulses/sec [pps] were applied for 10 minutes/day, for two weeks). Quantitative and qualitative assessment of bone formation was made at two and eight weeks following surgery and included morphological and histological analysis, serological analysis by ELISA, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and three-point bending test. At two weeks in HF-PEMF group, soft callus was at a more advanced fibrocartilaginous stage and the bone volume/total tissue volume (BV/TV) ratio in the callus area was significantly higher compared to control group (p = 0.047). Serum concentration of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OC) was significantly higher in HF-PEMF group (ALP p = 0.026, OC p = 0.006) as well as the mechanical strength of femurs (p = 0.03). At eight weeks, femurs from HF-PEMF group had a completely formed woven bone with dense trabeculae, active bone marrow, and had a significantly higher BV/TV ratio compared to control (p = 0.01). HF-PEMFs applied from the first postoperative day, 10 minutes/day for two weeks, enhance bone consolidation in rats, especially in the early phase of fracture healing

Partial Experimental Contributions on the Validation of Biomechanical Models of the Human Body Subjected to the Action of Mechanical Vibrations

Abstract This paper focuses on the field of mechanical vibrations experimental analysis in hand arm vibrations (HAVs) for people who by the nature of their job are subject to the mechanical vibrations.</jats:p